About Us

John Fannin was appointed Assistant Director of Bands at Murray State University in 1995. His responsibilities at Murray State include Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Pep Band, Marching Band, and instrumental music education classes. Under Mr. Fannin’s leadership the Racer Marching Band has grown from 85 to 300 members. The MSU Racer Marching Band was featured at the 2012 & 2006 Bands of America Grand National Marching Band Championships.

Prior to his appointment at Murray State University, Mr. Fannin was band director at Onate High School (NM), Del Norte High School (NM), White Sand Missile Range Middle School (NM), Thoreau High School (NM), and Ganado High School (AZ).

Mr. Fannin’s awards include the 2017 Max Carman Outstanding Teacher Award, the 2010 Murray State University Distinguished Professor , 2009 KMEA “University Teacher of the Year,” 2006-2007 Outstanding Murray State University Music Teacher of the Year, and the Phi Beta Mu 2007 “Outstanding Contributor to Band in KY.”

John also serves as creative resource (music and visual) for many high school and college bands. He has published concert band works with Arrangers Publishing Company, Curnow Music Press, and Alfred Music Company.

Mr. Fannin is an active band clinician and guest conductor. He has been a guest conductor/clinician in Brazil, Dhaka, New Mexico, Texas, Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, New York, Florida, Georgia, and Kentucky.

Scott Koter​ recently retired as Assistant Superintendent for the Kiski Area School District in Vandergrift, Pa. and previously served as Director of Secondary Education, Principal, Music Department Chairman and Director of Bands in the same district beginning in 1982. As band director, his ensembles received numerous honors including appearances at the Midwest Clinic, MENC, IAJE and PMEA conventions as well as numerous state and regional marching band titles winning two Bands of America Grand National Class AA titles. Scott received citations for teaching excellence from the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, National Band Association, International Association of Jazz Educators as well as Duquesne University, St. Vincent College and California University of PA. Under his leadership, Kiski High School was named a Grammy Signature School and the district was named a Best Community in Music by the NAMM Foundation.

Scott served as program coordinator for The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps of Rosemont, IL from 1999-2015 winning five world titles, three silver and four bronze medals. He presently serves in that same capacity for the Santa Clara Vanguard of Santa Clara, CA. He also has served as design consultant for numerous drum corps including the Bluecoats, Troopers, Spirit of Atlanta, Pacific Crest and 7th Regiment and has guided dozens of band programs including Carmel, Centergrove, Plymouth-Canton, Winston Churchill, Plano East, McKinney and Floyd Central high schools. Scott has adjudicated contests all of the world having judged multiple DCI, BOA and WGI championship events. Additionally, he served as Percussion Caption Chairman for Drum Corps International, a member of the DCI Task Force and the Bands of America Advisory Board. Scott presently serves as an educational artist for Innovative Percussion Inc. and was inducted into the DCI Hall of Fame in 2015. He is honored to collaborate with college classmate and good friend, John Fannin as well as the entire creative team at Fannin Musical Productions.

Rosie Queen

Rosie Queen

Rosie has extensive experience in world class drum corps, marching bands and winter guard across the world. She has been the color guard director and on the visual design team at Carmel H.S. since 2003. During these years, Carmel has won BOA Grand Nationals 5-times. Recently earning 3 consecutive titles back to back (2016, 2017, 2018) along with High Visual and High General Effect. Carmel H.S. Winter Guard has also won 8 IHSCGA State Championships and the WGI World Championships 5 times under her tenure.

From 1999 – 2002 she has served in a variety of roles with the Emmy and Tony award winning show “Blast!” and “Shockwave” as Cast Manager, Visual Ensemble Manager and Visual Trainer/Technician.

“Teaching the teachers” is another passion that Rosie holds important to her. She has participated as a mentor and clinician in many educational events for WGI and BOA over the years. WGI “Spinfest” clinician every year that they have held an event and BOA Summer Symposium Color Guard Director track and show consultations. Rosie is also the lead in WGI’s “Flag FUN-damentals” educational video series along with a new release coming out this year—“WGI Sabre Educational Video”.

Rosie proudly serves on the WGI Advisory board, Board of Directors and currently is the Secretary of the WGI Executive Board. Currently Rosie resides in Indianapolis with her husband, Jeff and two Golden Doodles, London and Indy. Rosie has a bachelor’s degree in special education and a certification in Event Management. Rosie is excited to work with John Fannin and his team to give you the best quality and visually stimulating marching band show that we can.

Matt Hightower is Assistant Professor of Tuba/Euphonium at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Prior to teaching at A&M-Kingsville, Matt held positions at Murray State University and The University of Texas at Austin, respectively.

Some of Dr. Hightower’s accolades as an ensemble performer include appearances with the Bloomington Camerata Orchestra, The Columbus (IN) Symphony, The Evansville Philharmonic, The Iceland Symphony Orchestra, The Jackson Symphony (TN), The Victoria Symphony (TX), and David Baker’s 20th Century BeBop Band. As a soloist, Matt regularly performs at conferences and universities domestic and abroad. Recent solo performances include Society of Composers Inc. National Conference, The United States Army Tuba Euphonium Workshop, The University of Texas at Austin, Baylor University, and University of Louisiana at Monroe. Matt also enjoys an active career as a chamber musician. He is a member of the Atlas tuba quartet, as well as the Corpus Christi and Kingsville Brass Quintets.

In 2010 Dr. Hightower was named the winner of the KMEA Intercollegiate Composition Contest. Recent performances of Matt’s work include the premier of “The Slide Advantage” by the Texas A&M University-Kingsville trombone choir at the 2016 Texas Music Educators Association Conference in San Antonio, TX, a performance of “Divertimento” by the Atlas tuba quartet at the 2016 International Tuba Euphonium Conference in Knoxville, TN, and the premier of “Concerto for Tuba” by Nimrod Ron, Principal Tuba of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra at the 2014 International Tuba Euphonium Conference in Bloomington, IN.

Matt is proud member of the creative team at Fannin Musical Productions. Through FMP, Matt’s compositions and arrangements have been performed by high school bands across the United States. Matt was a member of the 2007 Cavaliers Drum and Bugle corps and has been a guest brass instructor at many high schools in the United States. Many of the bands Dr. Hightower has composed and arranged for have achieved high acclaim on the respective state, regional, and national level.

Matt resides in Kingsville, TX with his wife Samantha and their clowder of cats.

Josh is a wind and percussion arranger for Fannin Musical Productions. His compositions and arrangements have been performed by hundreds of bands throughout the country including state and Bands of America regional finalists. He is also currently the co-caption head for the Murray State University Racer Band percussion section. He has held this position for eleven years after first serving as the front ensemble head for one year. His duties include teaching and arranging for both the battery and front ensemble. During Josh’s tenure the band has performed at the BOA Grand National Championships and multiple BOA Regional Championships.

Josh has taught many high school percussion sections in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Louisiana. His sections at Murray High School (KY) were a regular state marching band finalist, and his Marshall County (KY) indoor percussion ensemble was a two time SCGC Scholastic A champion. Josh, a 2004 graduate of Murray State University, is also an active performer as a member of the Paducah Symphony Orchestra. He’s also performed with the Jackson (TN) Symphony and was the drummer for “Variety: Music, Memories, and More” in Grand Rivers, KY. Josh lives in Benton, KY with his wife, Tessa, and daughter, Liza.

Michael Pote

Michael Pote

In 2013, Michael Pote was named Director of Bands at Carmel High School in Carmel, IN after spending 20 years serving as Associate Director of Bands. His teaching responsibilities include co-conducting all six concert bands as well as conducting Jazz Ensemble 1. He is also music caption head for the Carmel High School Marching Band.

Carmel High School’s advanced concert band, Wind Symphony 1, performed at the 2005 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago as well as being a 3-time participant in the Bands of America National Concert Band Festival. Wind Symphony 1 was also named the 2013 and 2015 Indiana State School Music Association’s Concert Band State Champion.

The Carmel High School Marching Band has received numerous honors including being the 2005 and 2012 Bands of America Grand National Champions and has been a top 12 finalist at the Bands of America Championships since 1996. They were the 2001, 2002 and 2012 Indiana State Champions. The marching band has marched in the Macy’s Parade, The London New Year’s Parade, and will march in the 2014 Rose Bowl Parade.

Michael is active as a composer and arranger for groups throughout the country. Several of his original works for marching band are available at www.centerxproductions.com. He is active as a guest conductor and clinician as well as a program consultant.

Michael is a 1990 graduate of Murray State University and currently lives in Carmel with his wife Gretta and son Devin.

Jeff Queen

Jeff Queen

Jeff Queen has been involved with percussion since the age of 10. At the age of 15, Jeff began his drum corps career with the Canton Bluecoats and continued on to march with the Velvet Knights, Santa Clara Vanguard, Blue Knights and the University of North Texas. Jeff was the Drum Corps International Individual and Ensemble Snare Drum Champion in 1994 and 1995 as well as the Percussive Arts Society Individual Snare Drum Champion in 1994 and 1995. Jeff has taught in the drum corps activity for over 18 years, including being the caption head for the Carolina Crown drum and bugle corps from 2003-04, percussion arranger for the Colts Drum and Bugle corps for 2007-08.

Jeff is an original cast member of the Tony and Emmy award winning Broadway Show “BLAST” where he was a solo performer and battery instructor from 1999 – 2003. Jeff has performed across the US, Europe and Asia. In addition Jeff has appeared on numerous Television shows including: The Late Show with David Letterman, The Kennedy Center Honors 2000, NBA All-Star Game 2001, Grey Cup 2007, “BLAST”, and “The Making of Blast” on PBS DVD and Video.

Queen is the author of “The Next Level: Rudimental Drumming Techniques” available through Jeff Queen Productions and “Playing With Sticks”, a more than 3-hour instructional DVD through Hudson Music. More of Jeff’s compositions are available through Drop6 Media, Tapspace Publications, and jeffqueen.com. Jeff is a signature artist for Vic Firth Drumsticks, and proudly endorses Evans Drumheads, Zildjian cymbals and Yamaha Drums.

Jeff holds his BM in Music Theory and Composition and MM in Percussion Performance from Butler University. Currently, Jeff is the Percussion Director for Carmel High School in Carmel, IN, and is on the faculty with Butler University and Marian University. When not teaching at home, Jeff travels the world as an active composer, arranger, judge, clinician, and performer.

Brent Johnson is currently in his 15th year as a music educator and serves as Director of Bands at Evergreen High School in Vancouver, WA. Prior to moving to the Pacific Northwest, Mr. Johnson served as a Fine Arts Director for Harlandale ISD (TX), Band Director at Douglas MacArthur HS (TX), Assistant Band Director at Winston Churchill HS (TX), Band Director at Davises County HS (KY), and Band Director at Elizabethtown HS (KY). In 2008, Mr. Johnson was selected as the Phi Beta Mu Outstanding Young Band Director in Kentucky. His ensembles consistently receive superior ratings both on the stage and on the football field.

During the past 12 years Brent has designed and written drill for over 150 marching bands all over the country. His work has been utilized by ensembles from coast to coast and and in many major circuits including BOA, USBands, Texas UIL, KMEA, and NWAPA. He has had the privilege of adjudicating marching bands throughout Texas, Kentucky, and New Mexico.

Brent is a 2001 graduate of Murray State University and received his Masters in Music from New Mexico State University in 2013.

Most recently, Brent has started his own Real Estate business in Portland, OR where he lives with his husband Roman.

Aaron Cunningham

Aaron Cunningham

Aaron Cunningham is currently the Director of Bands at Tates Creek High School in Lexington, KY. He has been an active drill and show designer since beginning his teaching career in 1999. Aaron has written for groups all over Kentucky as well as Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Arizona, and North Carolina. This range of experience has given him the opportunity to write for groups of all sizes, styles, and difficulty levels.

Todd Hill

Todd Hill

Todd E. Hill is Director of Jazz Studies at Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky. He directs the Jazz Orchestra, Jazz Band, Jazz Lab Big Band, three Jazz Combos, and teaches courses in arranging, musicianship, music education, and jazz history. Under his leadership, the MSU Jazz Orchestra has played at numerous state conferences, won “Outstanding Big Band Performance” at the Elmhurst College Jazz Festival, and performed at the prestigious MidWest International Band Clinic in 2014. The MSU Jazz Orchestra’s 2015 CD release Why We CAN Have Nice Things is available on Mark Records. He also directs the MSU Town & Gown Community Band. He holds Bachelor and Master of Music Education degrees from MSU, and the Doctor of Education (EdD) from Boise State University. Hill has been active as guest clinician and conductor for concert and jazz bands in Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Illinois, Arkansas, Missouri, Ohio, Idaho, Washington, Montana, Oregon, and Nevada.

Hill has lead his own professional jazz groups (The Todd Hill Orchestra and Quintet) for over thirty years. As a free-lance pianist, he has performed with Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Gary Morris, Denise LaSalle, Stella Parton, The Moody Blues, Byron Stripling, Allen Vizzutti, Chris Vadala, Ron Wilkins, Jamey Aebersold, Denis DiBlasio, Buddy Childers, Greg Abate, Rich Matteson, and the Paducah (KY) and Jackson (TN) Symphony Orchestras. He held previous teaching positions at Milan (TN) Middle and High Schools, Northwest Mississippi Community College, Boise State University, and the University of the Cumberlands. His arrangements and compositions for tuba-euphonium ensembles and trombone choirs are currently available through Cimarron Music Press. His arrangements for jazz ensembles are published by Walrus Music/eJazzLines. In addition to multiple album appearances in a variety of genres, he has recorded a solo gospel piano CD, and three jazz CD releases under his own name.

Dr. Hill has been named “College/University Music Educator of the Year” on three occasions and “Friend of Music” by KMEA’s District One Music Educators. Dr. Hill frequently presents clinics at jazz festivals and music education conferences, and authored an article on jazz pedagogy for The Instrumentalist. Dr. Hill is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Sigma Alpha Iota (Friend of the Arts), Phi Beta Mu, Kappa Kappa Psi, NAfME, KMEA, ITEA, CBDNA, and the Murray Rotary Club.

Raised in Murray, KY, Jacob (Jake) Thiede is a composer, saxophonist and current PhD student at the University of North Texas.

Premieres and performances of Jake’s music have taken place in Italy and the United States including the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, and Washington.

Honors and festivals include the SCI National Conference (2018), Electronic Music Midwest (2018), NASA Biennial Conference (2018), Flute New Music Consortium (2017), BGSU Graduate Music Conference (2017), the NSEME Conference (2016 & 2017), the Electric LaTex Conference (2016 & 2017), New Music on the Point (2015), and the HighSCORE Festival (2014).

He received his BME at Murray State University and MM in music composition at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He has studied with Mike D’Ambrosio, Brian Ciach, and John Fannin at Murray State and with Mark Engebretson, Alejandro Rutty, and Steven Bryant at UNCG. As a saxophonist, he has studied with Scott Erickson and Steven Stusek.

Current interests are grooves and rhythms in metal music, glitch, and the manipulation of sine tones. Jake studies composition with Panayiotis Kokoras, Kirsten Broberg, and Andrew May as well as saxophone with Eric Nestler at the University of North Texas.

His professional affiliations include the American Society for Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), the Society of Composers, Inc. (SCI), and the Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States (SEAMUS).

Ryan Wilkerson is a native of Fort Branch, Indiana who earned his Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Murray State University. He specializes in music composition and arrangements for both marching and concert percussion groups. He has written for dozens of schools all over the United States. Mr. Wilkerson is the Assistant Band Director at Union City Middle and High Schools in addition to being the Director of Percussion at Union City High School (TN). Prior to his coming to Union City he previously served for seven years as the Director of Percussion and Assistant Band Director at Henry County High School in Paris, Tennessee.

Ryan’s writing style involves creating parts that lay out well on the hands of the performers, line up easily for the teacher, and enhance the overall music package. When writing a custom arrangement for your ensemble, he will focus on maximizing your group’s strengths and building your weaknesses.

Ryan currently resides in Union City, TN with his wife Ashley and daughter Leah.